Tragic Incident at Lake Tahoe

A software engineer from Texas, identified as Jadessa Aga, tragically died on Monday night after being found unresponsive in Lake Tahoe. The 32-year-old from Austin was employed by Amazon, per her LinkedIn profile.

The authorities, including the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, have initiated an investigation, but the official cause of death is still pending.

Deputies were called to the North Sand Harbor boat launch around 8 p.m. following reports of a potential water rescue at the Nevada State Park. According to investigators, Aga had swum towards a cluster of granite rocks and subsequently vanished beneath the surface without coming back up.

Before help arrived, bystanders attempted a rescue and managed to bring her to shore. Once there, deputies began CPR, which emergency medical personnel continued upon arrival. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene, as stated by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities are presently treating the incident as what appears to be an accidental drowning. Justin Norton, an operations manager with the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, mentioned that the investigation is ongoing and no records or cause of death are available at this moment.

Colleagues remembered Aga on LinkedIn, calling her an “exceptional” employee and a great team player.

Sand Harbor State Park, located near Incline Village, attracts over a million visitors each year for its beautiful waters and recreational opportunities, like swimming and kayaking. Sadly, cold water shock is noted to cause several drownings annually in the area.

This incident follows another drowning in the vicinity just weeks earlier. In August 2024, a father from San Jose also lost his life near Bonsai Rock on Tahoe’s East Shore, highlighting the dangers of the lake.

The medical examiner’s office typically requires 10 to 12 weeks to complete a test report.